Canucks Management's Biggest Mistake: Roberto Luongo and 12-Year Deal

VANCOUVER—You ask, what is the biggest problem with the Vancouver Canucks management staff these days? Well, the answer is very simple: They made a very big mistake signing Roberto Luongo (28 years old at the time) to an albatross 12-year deal to be their No. 1 goalie until he is 43 years old.

Perhaps owner Francesco Aquilini doesn't mind, but the Vancouver Canucks are stuck in a very daunting position.

Here are the reasons why:

A)    A goalie can hardly be consistent over the course of three to four seasons. Never has a goalie been solid for a dozen years. Right now, the Canucks can see that a goalie cannot even stay consistent month-to-month. It is a big problem for a team when their goalie struggles, and is stuck with the team due to a long contract.

The biggest issue with Roberto Luongo is his handling of the big-pressure moments. His personality does not allow him to have ice-cool veins when he plays in the crucial games and crucial moments of a hockey game.

For example, in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Canada was in control until with nine seconds remaining, Zach Parise was able to dangle and deke Luongo out of position and score to tie the game at 2-2 apiece.

In the playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks, Luongo was so questionable that the team started backup Cory Schneider for Game 6. Against Boston…you know the story there.

B)    Roberto Luongo has a bad habit of doing the “Snow Angel” when there is a scramble in front of his net. He will settle into a “Snow Angel” although the puck is loose in his crease. Often times, scorers will easily pick up and raise the puck into the net. If you follow the other goaltenders in the NHL, very rarely does a goalie form a “Snow Angel” in danger situations.

Also, Luongo’s play since the All-Star break has been very poor. Especially lately, he is giving up very bad goals that took away momentum from the Canucks, and poured confidence in his opponents to come back and win. We saw that against Dallas twice, Phoenix and others. His goal against average is in the high 3.00s. Alain Vigneault and the management staff seem to be very protective.

Did you notice? When Cory Schneider starts and wins a game for his team, Vigneault will credit both of his goalies of a strong performance. When Luongo is in net, it’s all Luongo’s credit. If Cory Schneider wants to play goalie, he may have to do so somewhere else. Coaching staff and management are sticking with Luongo. Schneider has a goal against average of low 1.00s, and yet he finds himself at the end of the bench almost every single night. Fairness? I think not.

C)    Lastly, Luongo is not a young man anymore. He is turning 33 when the 2012 NHL Playoffs begin. Very soon, Luongo will start to age and break down more easily. We have seen plenty of that with goalies such as Martin Brodeur, Marty Turco and J-S. Giguere.

In the Canucks system, they have a proven backup, and arguably the best NHL starter candidate for 2012-2013 season with Cory Schneider. Right now, Schneider is turning 26 and developing a very confident and strong game. Yet, the Canucks paid $5.33 million a year to Roberto, so they have to use him more than the upcoming goalie.

If the Canucks plan on staying competitive and entertaining, the management must find a way to keep Cory Schneider in Vancouver. They also must figure some alternative solutions to avoid paying Luongo until the age of 43.

The above reasons show the past continuous pattern with their goalie Luongo. If things do not improve in goal soon, the Canucks fans shouldn’t be surprised to know that their team isn’t leaving on a trip to the Stanley Cup in June.

This is Joseph Tung reporting from Vancouver.